High
School Football St.
Peter Knights overwhelmed in OFSAA bowl appearanceBy Fred SherwinOrléans Online

St.
Peter's Josh Earle provided the lone highlight
of the game for the Knights in their Western
Bowl loss, running back a kick off 120
yards for their only TD of the game. File
photo

The
St. Peter Knights quest for an OFSAA bowl game trophy
has come up short for the second year in row after they
were left bruised and battered by the Catholic Central
Crusaders in the Western Bowl final last week.

The
Knights were hoping to redeem themselves after getting
blown out 50-16 by Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary School
from Halton last year, but unfortunately, it was déja
vu all over again as the Crusaders held the National Champion
champions to just 120 yards in total offence while rolling
to a 40-7 win.

The
Southwestern Ontario champions from London were led by
their MVP running back, Derek Aubin, who ran for 223 yards
and a touchdown against the Knights whose lone score came
on a highlight reel 120-yard kick return by Josh Earle
in the fourth quarter.

The
game started out well enough for the Knights, who were
able to keep the Crusaders off the scoreboard in the first
quarter. The second quarter was a different story.

After
starting the second stanza with a 10-yard field goal,
the Crusaders scored touchdowns on back-to-back possessions
to take a 17-0 lead.

Aubin
scored the first touchdown on a 43-yard run, while the
second TD was scored through the air on a 51-yard pass
from Luke Petropoulakis to Pearson Brown.

A
safety late in the quarter would make the score 19-0 at
the half.

After
a scoreless second quarter, the Crusaders padded their
lead with a pair of touchdowns by Sebastien Vanin. The
first came on a nine-yard pass from Petropoulakis and
the second came on a 43-yard interception return.

The
Crusaders would one more touchdown for good measure after
Earles kick return.

In
the end, the Knights just couldnt get their offence
untracked. The Crusaders completely shut their running
game down, limiting them to just 25 yards on the ground.
And when the Knights were forced to go to the air, the
Crusaders ball hawks picked them off five times.

It
was the Knights fifth appearance in an OFSAA bowl
game. Their last win was in the 2009 National Capital
Bowl. They also won it in 2005.

Despite
the spectre of losing several key players to graduation
next spring including Pascal Roy-Lapensée and Alex
Lawrie, the Knights are still the early favourites to
win their third straight National Capital championship
next year and seventh in the past eight.

The
future looks even brighter with several talented players
from the Knights undefeated junior team expected to excel
at the senior level.